The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-02-25


The parents either from ignorance or indif-
ference take no interest in the work of the
child and from poverty or carelessness don't
furnish them sufficient light to study by at
night; or if they do, their study hour is con
tinually interrupted by the unmeaning
conversation of the other members of the
family. doubt if minister would like
to compose his sermon or lawyer work up
his case under circumstances similar to
those surrounding the children. Can we
wonder then that the child loses interest in
school.
The child begs to be allowed to remain
at home promising to work or do something
for the parent in compensation for the priv
ilege. The parent accedes and the child
loses its schooling. Or the parent keeps the
child at home against Its own inclination to
run unnecessary errands or perform work
that might we'll be postponed until Saturday
| | have no doubt that some will take is
sue with me upon both points but claim
that there is no adequate reason why par
ent in this enlightened and prosperous COM
munity cannot supply at home, encourage
ment to study and afford to send their
children to school from their sixth to their
sixteenth year.
A TEACHER.
Our correspondent has taken up a
very. very important subject. One
taat should be thoroughly ventilated,
SO that its alarming evils be held up
to public view in the clearest light.
Parents seldom think of the great
evil they are infiicting on their child
rem by the habit of allowing them to
absent themselves from school.
The old evil of getting something
for nothing is the besetting sin fos-
tered by the present public school
system. There is entirely too much
offered to the public in the matter OF
education. They do not value it the
cost is so trif1ing The attendance
is not so good, nor is the privilege
80 highly esteemed of attending
school as in the early days, when 8
large number of School
masters" they were called then ano
!, very appropriate too-were mere
r donkeys. Their power was despotic
as any Turkish Bashaw. and wei
nigh rs cruelty exercised. These
schools were subscription schools
and the system of teaching of the
S crudest, but the attendance was
' punctual, there being but little ab-
sentceism among the children. The
parents had to pay by the quarter
and they were bound to get the worth
of their money ifit was sin the wood
t Our public school system is q
5 wastful prodigal. There are too
many lessons, and the children are
allowed to be fed at the public ex,
pense too long. From 6 to IA years
should be the limit, and no more
lessons attempted than could be
, taught and learned most thoroughly
in that time. Those desiring a more
advanced education could acquire it
by paying for their tuition at higher
and better schools, which would then
flourish, but which are, under our
broad gauge public system smother
ed out. while the ground thus pre-
empted by the State is not nearly
utalzed as it should be for the ex
pense incurred. Those who oct
something for nothing are the most
undesirable class of citizens. They
are principally tramps and beggars.
And yet this is the theory our public
schools are based on The State
should see to it that it's children are
placed fairly in the portals of the
temple of knowledge. It's duty and
: it's usefulness as an educator ends
there.